Pre-mountable bundling strap

ABSTRACT

THE DISCLOSURE IS DIRECTED TO AN ARTICLE BUNDLING STRAP WHICH MAY BE PRE-MOUNTED TO A MOUNTING SURFACE AND THEN PLACED ABOUT AN ARTICLE, OR ARTICLES, TO BE BUNDLED TO AFFIX SUCH ARTICLES TO THE MOUNTING SURFACE. THE STRAP IN A FIRST OF ITS BASIC EMBODIMENTS CONSISTS OF AN ELONGATED BUNDLING STRAP TERMINATING AT ONE END IN A FREE TAIL END PORTION AND AT THE OTHER IN A DEFLECTABLE TONGUE HAVING A BOSS THEREON. AT LEAST TWO RIBS EXTEND FROM THE BODY OF THE STRAP AND TERMINATE IN A TAB, HAVING A BOSS THEREON. POSITION ROOM IS LEFT BETWEEN THE RIB TO PERMIT THE MOVEMENT OF THE DEFLECTABLE TONGUE. EITHER OF THE BOSSES MAY HAVE PLACED THERETHROUGH TRANSVERSE APERTURES TO ADMIT PASSAGE OF THE BODY PORTION OF THE STRAP THERE THROUGH AND THE REMAINING BOSS MAY HAVE AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH TO ADMIT PASSAGE OF A FASTENING MEANS FOR FASTENING THE STRAP TO A MOUNTING SURFACE. IN A SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE DEVICE, A DEFLECTABLE TONGUE, IS MOUNTED UPON THE TAB PORTION SUPPORTED BY THE EXTENDING RIBS.

March 9, 1971 J. woLDMAN PRE-MOUNTABLE BUNDLING STRAP File@ Jan. 1 5, 1959 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 9, 1.971 J. WOLDMAN PRE-MOUNTABLE BUNDLING STRAP Filed Jan. 15, 1969 sheets-sheet "III, Il!

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INVENTOR l JESSE WOL DMA/v BY gf/@ LWN AT TORNEY United States Patent O- U.S. Cl. 24-73 34 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure is directed to an article bundling strap Which may be pre-mounted to a mounting surface and then placed about an article, or articles, to be lbundled to aix such articles to the mounting surface. The strap in a first of its basic embodiments consists of an elongated bundling strap terminating at one end in a free tail end portion and at the other in a dellectable tongue having a boss thereon. At least two ribs extend from the body of the strap and terminate in a tab, having a boss thereon. Position room is left between the rib to permit the movement of the detlectable tongue. Either of the bosses may have placed therethrough transverse apertures to admit passage of the body portion of the strap therethrough and the remaining boss may have an aperture therethrough to admit passage of a fastening means for fastening the strap to a mounting surface. In a second embodiment of the device, a dellectable tongue, is mounted upon the tab portion supported by the extending ribs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The invention is directed to the lield of bundling one or more articles to form a convenient more easily handled unit which may be mounted upon a mounting surface. The articles may be a plurality of individual conductors formed into a cable or may be articles such as pipe, hose, rods or any other articles having regular, or irregular, shapes which are to be bundled and mounted upon a mounting surface.

Description of the prior art Prior art cable bundling straps of the type which can be wrapped about an article, or articles, to be bundled and which can be mounted upon a mounting surface, are shown 4by U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,557, issued Feb. 27, 1962, to Maurus C. Logan, entitled Cable Bundling and Supporting Strap and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. In the straps disclosed inthe above cited patent, a head member is provided having a rst boss for receipt therethrough of the strap body portion after same has been wrapped about an article, or articles, to be bundled. The second boss appearing on the head member has an aperture therethrough for receipt therein of a fastening means for fastening the bundle of individual conductors to a mounting surface. In such a device it is necessary that the articles llrst be bundled by use of a strap body portion. Secondly, that the assembled unit can be mounted to the surface of a mounting surface by use of fastening means. It is not possible to mount in advance the bundling straps to the mounting surface and then place same about the articles to be bundled and supported thereby. It is inconvenient, and sometimes impractical, to support the entire length of an assembled cable while the strap is alixed to a mounting surface. It would be far easier to be able to mount the straps upon a mounting surface lirst and then place the strap body portion of the strap about the plurality. of articles to be bundled. Such is not possible with the straps of the cited patent in that the locking mechanism is achieved partially by the use of the fastening device in a first 3,568,262 Patented Mar. 9, 1971 embodiment and in a second embodiment because of the manner of placement of the boss for receiving theA strap therethrough. In the latter embodiment the strap once atlixed to the mounting surface would be in parallel with the mounting surface and it would be necessary to deflect the strap from the surface in order to permit the strap to be inserted through the boss to receive it in locking engagement. Such deflectiorf of the strap -with respect to the mounting surface about the fastening device would generally result in the destruction of the strap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the ditliculties noted above with respect to prior art article bundling straps employed for mounting articles upon a mounting surface either before or after same have been wrapped about a plurality of articles to be bundled. This is accomplished by providing a strap which can be easily mounted to a mounting surface and which still leaves the head member free for receipt of the strap therethrough in locking engagement Without interference with the already premounted strap portion. This is accomplished by providing a strap body portion for wrapping about an article, or plurality of articles, to be bundled which terminates at one end in a free tail end portion and at a second end in a deflectable tongue having a boss thereon. At least two ribs extend from the body portion adjacent the dellectable tongue and terminate in a tab beyond the boss of the deflectable tongue, the tab also having a boss thereon. Sufficient clearance is placed between the deectable tongue and the ribs to permit movement of the detlectable tongue without disturbing the remaining portion of the strap. Depending upon the manner in which the strap is to be employed, either the boss upon the dellectable tongue or the boss upon the tab may have a transverse aperture therethrough for receipt of the strap body portion therein and therethrough and will have adjacent, or in the transverse aperture, locking means to permit the strap body portion to be permitted to enter in and advance within the transverse aperture but locked against removal therefrom. The remaining boss whether on the dellectable tongue or the tab, will have therein a further aperture for receipt therethrough of a fastening means for fastening the strap to a mounting surface. In this manner, it is possible, for example, to fasten the strap having a mounting aperture in the boss upon the ta-b, to a mounting surface and then cause deflection of a locking head boss from the plane of the remaining portion of the strap such that the free tail end portion of the strap may be placed through the aperture in locking engagement therewith after same has been placed about a plurality of articles to be bundled. l

Alternatively, the strap may be bundled about a plurality of articles employing a locking head in the boss of the tab and the deflectable tongue having a fastening aperture through its boss then deflected out of the plane of the strap in order that a fastening means pass therethrough for fastening the strap to the mounting surface. In further embodiments of the device it is possible to depend the dellectable tongue from the tab portion of the strap and place the same arrangement of bosses upon the deflectable tongue and tab. A choice may then be made as to the placement of the fastening aperture, or locking aperture, in either of the available bosses.

In further embodiments of the device, additional arrangements are provided whereby two locking aperture boss arrangements and a single mounting aperture may be provided or wherein two mounting apertures and two locking boss arrangements may be employed. Alternatively, an additional strap body portion may be employed extending in a direction opposite to the first strap body portion permitting the insertion therebetween of one or more mounting apertures in a plurality of locking head boss arrangements on deflectable tongues.

In this manner a plurality of arrangements are provided for afXing an article, or articles, to a mounting surface such that the strap portion itself may be afxed to the articles and then mounted upon a mounting surface or trst mounted upon a mounting surface and then have the articles aixed thereto. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved bundling strap of the pre-mountable type.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a bundling strap having on the elongated strap body portion, at a first end thereof, a deectable tongue containing a boss surrounded by ribs extending from the strap body' portion and terminating in a tab having thereon a further boss either of said bosses having therethrough apertures for receipt of fastening means or for the placement of locking devices for receipt in locking engagement the strap body portion.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved bundling strap of the type having an elongated strap body and terminating at a first end thereof in a plurality of ribs supporting a tab having a boss thereon and further having a deflectable tongue extending from said tab towards the remaining portion of the strap body; the deectable tongue also having thereon a boss; said bosses on said dellectable tongue and tab arranged to receive either fastening means therethrough or the strap body portions and providing locking means yfor locking such strap body portions when placed in said apertures.

It is still another object of this invention to provide improved article bundling strap having a plurality of deectable tongues each supporting a boss having an aperture therethrough with locking means adjacent thereto tov receive in locking engagement the strap body portions.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a multiple bundling strap having a plurality of locking head arrangements and mounting means.

Other objects and features of the invention Will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principles of the invention, and the best modes which have been contemplated for carrying them out.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a front elevational vieW of a strap constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view, in section, of the strap of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the strap of FIGS. 1 and 2, in side elevation, prior to its contact with a mounting surface.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a strap of FIG. 3, in side elevation, after said strap has been brought into contact with the mounting surface.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the strap of FIG. 1 in side elevation, in the position prior to use.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the strap of FIG. 1 shown mounted upon the mounting surface and having a plurality of articles retained thereby.

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective View of the head end por-k tion of a further embodiment of a bundling strap constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the strap of FIG. 7 positioned about a plurality of articles and mounted upon a mounting surface.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the head end portion of a further embodiment of a bundling strap constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. l0 is a rear perspective View of the head end portion of a further embodiment of a strap constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

FIG. ll is a rear perspective view of a head end pore tion of a further embodiment of a bundling strap constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention,

FIG. l2 is a rear perspective View, foreshortened, of a further 4embodiment of a bundling strap constructed in accordance With the concepts of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view, foreshortened, of yet another embodiment of a bundling `strap constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention.

Similar elements will be given similar reference characters in each of the respective igures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown a premountable bundling strap 20 constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention. Bundling strap 20 has an elongated strap body portion 22 terminating in a tapered free tail end 24. As is better seen in FIG. 2 the tail portion 24 is inclined as to the right of FIG. 2. However, it should be noted that the tail end portion 24 may be inclined to the left or maintained in line with the strap body portion 22. At the opposite end of the strap portion 22 is the head end assembly 26. The head end assembly 26 is comprised of a dellectable tongue 28 coupled to the strap body portion 22 and extending therefrom and terminating in a tab 30. Placed upon the dellectable tongue 28 is a boss 32 having therethrough a transverse aperture 34 of sufficient size and proper shape to permit the passage therethrough of the strap body portion 22. Mounted in the boss 32, adjacent the transverse aperture 34, and extending thereinto and partially blocking same is a locking means 36 Which may conveniently take the form of a detlectable metallic barb mounted in such a manner as to permit the strap body portion 22 to be inserted and advanced through the transverse aperture 34 but which engages the strap body portion 22 and prevents same from being withdrawn from the transverse aperture 34. Deflectable tongue 28 is constructed of such material and is dimensioned such that the entire tongue 28 may be de- `ected from the plane of the remaining portion of the strap 20.

Also extending from the strap body portion 22 and a portion of the head end assembly 26 are a pair of ribs 38 which proceed about the deflectable tongue 2S and terminate in a further tab 40 on which is placed an addi tional boss 42 through which a fastening aperture 44 is' placed. A suitable fastening means (not shown) may be passed through the aperture 44 to atix the bundling strap 20 to a mounting member (not shown). A few details may be noted With respect to the deectable tongue 28 and the boss 32 thereupon. The top of the boss 32 eX- tends above the remaining portion of the mounting and locking assembly 26 as is better seen in FIG. 2. Dellectable tongue 28 is free to move within the area defined by the ribs 38 and the deectable tongue 28 may be deflected to a plane perpendicular to the plane of the remaining portion of the strap 20. For the sake of convenience of explanation the left most surface of the strap 2t), as is shown in FIG. 2, is defined as the back surface 46 whereas the right most sur-face of the strap 20` is defined as the front 48 of the strap 20.

Turning noW to FIGS. 3 through 6, the manner of utilization of the straps, FIGS. 1 and 2 may be better appreciated. FIGS. 3 through 6 are schematic so that only the overall details of the strap may be appreciated. FIG.. 3 shows the bundling strap 20` at a position just above an mounting surface 50 such that no portion of the strap 2li is in contact with such mounting surface 50. As the strap` 20 is lowered to contact the mounting surface `50, as is-l shown in FIG. 4, the front face of the boss 32 will contact Vthe mounting surface 50 first and will be deflected upwardly as is shown by FIG. 4 exposing the ta'b 30 at the end of the deectable tongue 28. A portion of the boss 32 will also be visible above the `back surface 46 of the strap 20. As a result of the exposure of the tab 30 in the manner shown in FIG. A, it is possible, by means of hand or tool, to grasp the tab 30v and to twist same to the left of FIG. thus causing the defiectable tongue 28 to take a position approximately perpendicular to the remaining portion of the strap 20. In this manner the bundling strap 20 is now ready for use. Such use may be made in one or two ways. A fastening device may be placed through the aperture 44, in the boss 42 of the tab v40, and the strap 20 fastened to the mounting surface. The body portion 52 may then be wrapped about a plurality of articles to be bundled and the free tail end 24 then inserted through the transverse aperture 34 of the boss 32 to lock and retain the articles within said looped strap body portion 22. Alternatively, the strap body portion 22 may be wrapped about an article, or articles, to be bundled and then the entire strap with bundle moved to the mounting surface and mounted thereon by means of a fastening device passed through the aperture 44 of boss 42.

In FIG. 6 the final mounted assembly is depicted. A fastening device 52 has been passed through the aperture 44 and the boss V42 of the tab 40 and through an aperture 54 in a mounting surface 56 and locked thereto by means of a nut 58. The strap body portion 22 has been wrapped about a plurality of conductors to form a cable 60, further, the tail end portion 54 of the strap 20` has been passed through the transverse aperture 34 of the boss 32 and locked therein by means of the locking means 36 and the excess portion of the strap 20` beyond the front face of the boss 32 has been removed.

An alternative construction to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in FIG. 7 wherein the defiectable tongue 28 terminates in a boss 72 which has therethrough a mounting aperture 74. Ribs 38 extend to a tab 40 which has thereon a boss 76 having a transverse aperture 78 therethrough. A tab 80y is provided adjacent the boss 76. Suitable locking means, not shown in the figure, are inserted within the transverse aperture 78 in the manner described with respect to locking mechanism 36 of the FIGS. 1 and 2. The manner of use of the bundling strap 70, of FIG. 7, will be generally the same as that set forth with respect to the strap 20 of FIGS. 1 and 2, in that the strap 70 may be first mounted to a mounting surface and then have the strap body portion 22 placed about a plurality of articles to be bundled, or may be first placed about a plurality of articles to be bundled and mounted upon the mounting surface. The positions of the fastening device 52 and the strap body portion 22 are reversed with respect to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 8 shows the appearance of the strap of FIG. 7 after the same has been mounted upon a mounting surface 56 employing a fastening device `52 with a nut 58 and employing an aperture 54 extending through the mounting surface 56.

Turning now to FIG. 9, a further embodiment of the bundling strap constructed in accordance with the concept of the invention is shown. In strap 100, a deflectable tongue 102 extends from the tab 40 and terminates in a locking head boss 104. On the boss 104 is a tab 106 to facilitate the displacement of the boss 104 from the plane of the remaining portion of the strap 100. 'Ihe functioning of the strap is generally the same as that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and will not be repeated.

FIG. shows a further embodiment of the strap constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention and is similar to FIG. 9 in that a deflectable tongue 102 extends from the tab 40, however, the defiectable tongue 102 terminates in a boss 110 which has therethrough an aperture 112 for receipt of a fastening means therethrough. The tab `40 terminates in a boss 114 which has therethrough transverse aperture 116 fitted with a fastening device such as the fastening device 36 of FIGS. l and 2. A tab 118 extends from the boss 110 and facilitates the movement of the boss 110 from the plane of the remaining portion of the strap 120. Use of the strap 120, of FIG. l0, is similar in detail to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and will not be repeated again.

Turning now to FIG. 11, a further variation of the bundling strap of FIG. l is shown. Head end assembly 26 has been extended to include an additional deflectable tongue which terminates in a further boss 132 having transverse aperture 134 with a locking means positioned therein as described with reference to locking means 36 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Boss 132 also has a tab 136 at the end thereof to facilitate its displacement from the plane of the remaining portion of the strap 22. By pro viding two locking heads, those contained within the bosses 32 and 132, it is possible to fasten the strap body portion 22 to either of the bosses depending upon the size of the article, or articles, to be bundled and on the position of the bundle with respect to the mounting surface. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a second bundling strap (not shown) which may be coupled through the locking `bosses 32 and 132.

Turning now to FIG. 12 there is shown a further embodiment of the bundling strap 22 of FIG. l1. Bundling strap 150 has additional ribs 38 extending beyond the boss 132 terminating in a further tab 40 which has thereon a boss 44 and a transverse mounting aperture 44 extending therethrough. Greater mounting freedom is provided by the availability of two mounting apertures 44 which permit the strap to be mounted as required by the mounting surface and the size of the bundle of articles placed within the strap body portion 22.

Turning now to FIG. 13, there is shown a further variation of the bundling strap of FIGS. l and 2, wherein two similar bundling straps are merged with a common mounting boss and aperture. The strap has dual locking bosses 32 and 162, each having therethrough transverse apertures 34 and 164 and locking means each similar to locking means 36 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Tabs 30 and 166 permit the locking bosses 32 and -162 to be defiected out of the plane of the remaining portion of the strap 160i. A single tab is provided with a boss 172 through which a transverse aperture 174 is passed for receipt therethrough of a fastening means. In this manner the strap 160 may be fastened to a mounting surface by passing a fastening means (not shown) through the aperture 174. A first plurality of conductors may be formed into a bundle by wrapping the body portion 22 about such first bundle and inserting same through the transverse aperture 34 in the locking boss 32. A second, and parallel, plurality of conductors may be wrapped in a bundle and held so by the body portion 176 as the same is passed about such conductors and placed through the transverse aperture 164 of the locking boss 162. It should be noted that with respect to the devices illustrated that the deflectable tongue may be mounted either as an extension of the body portion or extending from the tab and that either the boss on the mounting tab or on the deflectable tongue may contain either mounting apertures or locking bosses as is necessary for particular applications of the strap.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention and as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes of form and details in the devices illustrated and in their operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A pre-mountable bundling strap for coupling an article to a mounting surface comprising: an elongated strap body portion having a free tail end at a first end thereof; a first deflectable tongue at the second end thereof; said first tongue terminating in a first boss having a -rst transverse aperture therethrough; at least two first ribs extending from said strap body portion beyond said first tongue; a first tab coupled to said first ribs and extending beyond said first tongue; and a second boss, having a second transverse aperture therethrough, upon said first tab; one of said transverse apertures proportioned to receive therein said strap body portion and the 7 other of said transverse apertures proportioned to receive therein a fastening means for fastening said strap to a mounting surface.

2. A strap, as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said first tongue is initially positioned below the adjacent surfaces of said strap whereby the placement of Said strap in Contact with a mounting surface causes at least a portion of said first tongue to be defiected above the adjacent surfaces of said strap.

3. A strap, as defined in claim 1, further comprising a second tab coupled to said first tongue whereby said tongue may be further defiected above the adjacent surfaces of said strap.

4. A strap, as defined in claim 2, further comprising a second tab coupled to said first tongue whereby said tongue may be further deflected above the adjacent surfaces of said strap.

S. A strap, as defined in claim 1, wherein said first transverse aperture is proportioned to receive therein said strap body portion and said second transverse aperture is proportioned to receive therein a fastening means for fastening said strap to a mounting surface.

6. A strap, as defined in claim 5, further comprising locking means positioned adjacent said first transverse aperture and extending thereinto; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said first transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion therefrom.

7. A strap, as defined in claim 5, further comprising locking means positioned in said first boss and extending into said first transverse aperture partially blocking same; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said first transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion.

8. A strap, as defined in claim 1, wherein said second transverse aperture is proportioned to receive therein said strap body portion and said first transverse aperture is proportioned to receive therein a fastening means for fastening said strap to a mounting surface.

9. A strap, as defined in claim 8, further comprising locking means positioned adjacent said second transverse aperture and extending thereinto; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said second transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion therefrom.

10. A strap, as defined in claim 8, further comprising locking means positioned in said second boss and extending into said second transverse aperture partially blocking same; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said second transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion.

11. A strap, as defined in claim 1, wherein said free tail end is formed at an angle with respect to the adjacent surfaces of said strap body portion.

12. A strap, as dened in claim 5, wherein said free tail end is formed at an angle with respect to the adjacent surfaces of said strap body portion.

13. A strap, as defined in claim 8, wherein said free tail end is formed at an angle with respect to the adjacent surfaces of said strap body portion.

14. A strap, as defined in claim 1, furthercornprising a second defiectable tongue coupled to first tab and extending therebeyond; a third boss upon said second deffectable tongue; and a third transverse aperture through said third boss for receipt therethrough of said strap body portion.

1S. A strap, as defined in claim 14, further comprising locking means positioned adjacent said third transverse aperture and extending thereinto; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said third transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion.

16. A strap, as defined in claim 14, further comprising locking means positioned in said third boss and extending into said third transverse aperture partially blocking same; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said third transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion.

17. A strap, as defined in claim 14, further comprising at least two second ribs extending from said rst tab beyond said second defiectable tongue; a second tab coupled to said second ribs and extending beyond said second tongue; a fourth boss upon said second tab; a fourth Vtransverse aperture through said fourth boss for receipt therethrough of a fastening means for fastening said strap to a mounting surface.

1'8. A strap, as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least two second ribs extending from said first tab; a second tab coupled to said second ribs; a second defiectable tongue coupled to said second tab and extending in a direction towards said first tab; a third boss upon said second tongue; and a third transverse aperture in said third boss for receipt therethrough of said strap body portion.

19. A strap as defined in claim 18, further comprising locking means positioned adjacent said third transverse aperture and extending thereinto; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said third transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion.

20. A strap, as defined in claim 19, further comprising locking means positioned in said third boss and extending into said third transverse aperture partially blocking same; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said third transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion.

21. A strap, as defined in claim 18, further comprising an additional strap body portion terminating at a first end thereof in an additional free tail end and coupled at its second end to said second tab and extending in a direction opposite to said strap body portion.

22. A pre-mountable bundling strap for coupling an article to a mounting surface comprising: an elongated strap body portion having a free tail end at afirst end thereof; at least two ribs extending from said strap body portion at the second end thereof; a tab coupled to said ribs; a deffectable tongue coupled to said tab and extending toward said strap body portion; a first boss, having a first transverse aperture therethrough, upon said tab and a second boss, having a second transverse aperture therethrough, upon said defiectable tongue; one of said transverse apertures proportioned to receive therein said strap body portion and the other of said transverse apertures proportioned to receive therein a fastening means for fastening said strap to a mounting surface.

23. A strap, as defined in claim 22, wherein at least a portion of said tongue is initially positioned below the adjacent surfaces of said strap whereby the placement of said strap in contact with a mounting surface causes at least a portion of said tongue to be deflected above the adjacent surfaces of said strap.

24. A strap, as defined in claim 22, further comprising a second tab coupled to said first tongue whereby said tongue may be further deflected above the adjacent surfaces of said strap.

25. A strap, as defined in claim 23, further comprising a second tab coupled to said first tongue whereby said tongue may be further deflected above the adjacent surfaces of said strap.

26. A strap, as defined in claim 22, wherein said first transverse aperture is proportioned to receive therein said strap body portion and said second transverse aperture is proportioned to receive therein a fastening means for fastening said strap to a mounting surface.

27. A strap, as defined in claim 26, further comprising locking means positioned adjacent said first transverse aperture and extending thereinto; said locking means permvv mitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said first transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion therefrom.

28. A strap, as defined in claim 26, further comprising locking means positioned in said first boss and extending into said iirst transverse aperture partially blocking same; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said first transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion.

29. A strap, as defined in claim 22, wherein said second transverse aperture is proportioned to receive therein said strap `body portion and said irst transverse aperture is proportioned to receive therein a fastening means for fastening said strap to a mounting surface.

30. A strap, as defined in claim 29, further comprising locking means positioned adjacent said second transverse aperture and extending thereinto; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said second transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion therefrom.

31. A strap, as defined in claim 29, further comprising locking means positioned in said second boss and extending into said second transverse aperture partially blocking same; said locking means permitting the entry and advance of said strap body portion through said second transverse aperture but preventing the withdrawal of said strap body portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,980 5/1960 Rapata 24-16(PB)UX 3,127,648 4/19164 Emery 248-74(PB)UX 3,147,523 9/1964 Logan 24-16(PB) 3,186,047 6/1965 Schwester et al. 24-16(PB) 3,214,808 11/1965 Litwin 248-74(PB)UX 3,302,913 2/1967 Collyer et al. 248-74(PB)X 3,457,598 7/1969 Mariani 24-16(PB) 3,461,510 8/1969 Holmes 24-16(PB) 3,471,109 10/1969 Meyer 24-16(PB) STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner U.s. C1. X.R. 2446; 248-74 

